title: Potential benefits to staff from humor therapy with nursing home residents.
abstract: Life in residential care can be challenging for residents and staff. Bringing humor into this setting may benefit residents, creating a more productive, enjoyable work environment for staff. The potential effect of exposure to humor therapy on staff, both as active and incidental participants, as part of a randomized controlled trial of the effect of humor therapy for aged care residents was investigated in the Sydney Multisite Intervention of LaughterBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE). The intervention involved a humor program with professional performers (ElderClowns) and trained facility staff (LaughterBosses) for a minimum of nine 2-hour sessions over 12 weeks. Methods included a staff survey at three time points, interviews with LaughterBosses, and a satisfaction rating by facility managers. There were significant positive findings for some staff subgroups, including assistants in nursing/personal care assistants and staff older than 45. LaughterBoss interviews and intervention group manager ratings of staff work enthusiasm were positive.
authors.forename: Lynnette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chenoweth
authors.forename: Lee-Fay
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goodenough
authors.forename: Zhixin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brodaty
authors.forename: Anne-Nicole
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009740:Nursing Staff; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic